noun. the biological theory, now discredited, positing that growth encompasses the emergence into mature forms of traits and abilities which exist in prototypical form within the germ cell.
PREFORMISM: "Preformism is not longer thought to be accurate."
Cite this page: N., Sam M.S., "PREFORMISM," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 7, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/preformism/ (accessed June 30, 2022).